Robert Carter

Jazz trombonist and vocalist; musician's union leader

Birth: September 26, 1915

Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri

Date of Interview: March 31, 1982

Place of Interview: Narrator's home

Interviewer: Dan Havens

Robert Carter began his musical studies with P.B. Langford, director of the Odd Fellows Brass Band (a lodge band). One of fifteen children, Robert attended Sumner High School where he continued his music training. Lodge and funeral bands were among his first music performing groups as a youth. He would later perform with Harry Winn, Eddie Johnson's Crackerjacks, Eddie Randle's Blue Devils, Fate Marable, Charles Creath, Dewey Jackson, the George Hudson Orchestra, and Singleton Palmer's Dixieland Six. Mr. Carter is a former President of the musicians' union, Local 197 in St. Louis. He has been a long-time executive board member of the St. Louis musicians' union Local 2-197.